Mason's head snaps toward the commotion. "No shit he made that. Beck, I need to see this."
Beck slides out of the booth and collects his beer. "Declan, you coming?"
Declan doesn't move. "Nah. I'll hold the table."
Mason and Beck exchange the kind of look brothers share when they're leaving someone behind to do the dirty work, and disappear toward the bar.
Zoey squeezes my knee under the table.
"I'm just gonna run to the restroom before we head out." She kisses my cheek, then glances at Declan. "Be nice."
Declan picks up his beer. "I'm always nice."
Zoey gives him a look that says I mean it, then disappears toward the back.
Suddenly, I'm all alone with Declan.
He sets a clean bone on the pile between us, wipes his fingers on a napkin, and leans back. The leather of the booth creaks under his weight, and for what feels like an eternity, he just watches me, his face unreadable.
I clear my throat. "So. The Bears. You guys liking the beach life, or—"
"Cut the shit, Lane." Declan leans forward, shoulders blocking out the entire damn lounge.
My heart stutters. “Excuse me?”
There's nothing friendly in his face anymore. "Now I'm gonna ask you something, and I want you to think before you answer. Because I'll know if you're lying."
I nod, my throat dry.
“My sister,” he says, voice low enough to freeze the beer in my hand. "What are your intentions?”
My pulse kicks up a notch. “With Zoey?”
“No, with the fucking honey sauce," he growls. "Yes, with Zoey.”
I take a slow sip of my beer, buying a second to think. “My intentions are to make her happy. To be there for her."
He nods, like he expected that answer. “And have you thought about what happens when your season kicks into gear?”
The question hits right in the gut, because it’s the same one I’ve been asking myself all day.
“Of course I’ve thought about it,” I say, meeting his gaze head-on. “It’s gonna suck. I’m gonna miss her like crazy. Morgan, too. But I’ll make the time. I’ll call. I’ll text. I’ll fly them out for games when I can."
He studies me with narrowed eyes, but I force myself to hold onto his gaze.
"Look, man," I say, treading carefully. "This isn’t a fling for me, Declan. I’m in this.”
"You sure?" He studies me, his eyes searching for any hint of bullshit. "Because my sister has been through enough. That ex-husband of hers… he left her with nothing but a kid and a mountain of self-doubt.”
“I know,” I say quietly.
“Good. We don’t wanna see her gettin’ hurt again. She doesn’t bounce back like she used to. None of us do. Because if you hurt her…" He studies me, his gaze so intense I feel it in my bones. "…I’ll make what Gabe did to you look like a love tap.”
I swallow hard, nodding.
Declan holds my stare, then just as he opens his mouth, probably to load up another threat, Zoey returns, slipping back into the booth.
She glances between us, sensing the shift in energy. “Everything okay?”
